NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: Picking Results for Each Remaining First-Round Series

We've already seen a crazy series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, a shocking upset of the Vancouver Canucks by the Los Angeles Kings and a Nashville Predators team that looked capable of hoisting the Cup this year after dominating the Detroit Red Wings.

And we've still got four series left in the first round.

God, I love the playoffs. Let's take a look at how the four remaining series in these playoffs will shake out.

Ottawa Senators over New York Rangers

Ottawa has two things going for them in Game 6—they're playing at home and they have Craig Anderson in net.

Anderson has been phenomenal since allowing four goals in a Game 1 loss, holding the Rangers to only five goals in the last four games.

If there is one thing I've learned from watching years of postseason hockey, it is that the best team doesn't always win, but the team with the hottest goaltender normally does.

Prediction: Ottawa in six.

Boston Bruins over Washington Capitals

Oh, Washington, you had your chance and you blew it at home in overtime. You had Boston on the ropes and didn't knock them out when you had the chance.

And now they get to go home, momentum on their side, for Game 7. This one can go either way, of course—every game in this series has been decided by one goal, and three of those games have gone to overtime.

But I think this series will start like it began—with a Tim Thomas gem and a close Bruins win.

Prediction: Boston in seven.

Chicago Blackhawks over Phoenix Coyotes

Before this series began, I picked Chicago to win in seven, and I'm sticking by my guns.

This has been the best series of the first round, with all five games to this point going to overtime. Honestly, trying to predict this series is akin to flipping a coin at this point.

Either team deserves to win. But I'm sticking with my initial prediction.

Prediction: Chicago in seven.

Florida Panthers over New Jersey Devils

The Devils get one more dance on home ice, and I think they'll take advantage and win Game 6. This series has been pretty even throughout, with momentum shifting game to game.

But the Devils haven't seemed capable of putting consecutive solid games together. In Game 4, they were amazing and easily won, 4-0. The next game, they failed to show up, Marty Brodeur made a terrible mistake with the puck behind the net and they lost 3-0.

If the Devils play at the top of their game, they're the better team. But they haven't done so yet. The Panthers will take advantage of that fact.

Prediction: Florida in seven.

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